When Wings Walk

It has been a while but here I am uploading the next blog entry. Again, apologies for the later edition once more, but I promise it is for a very valid reason. After all, if there is one thing I focus on within my writing (as well as the obvious topic of this online profile - writing) it is the importance of balancing life with writing. As always I shall give a brief overview of this as it is an exciting life chapter for me currently. I shall also mention that although this blog is a fairly short entry, it focuses on a recent adventure which I massively enjoyed involving two of my favourite things - the city of York and an interactive story. However I still hope you enjoy!

So, what is this new life chapter? Well as I mentioned before I have a new job and I am now just going into the summer holidays. It certainly feels bizarre knowing I am still in employment from September but I do not need to work until after the summer break. It is a gift of freedom I will take some time to get used to but this means I have all the free time to write and enjoy time with friends and family too. I must admit I absolutely adored receiving so many thoughtful gifts at the end of the year. It is also comforting to feel like I have made the right decision and following the right path for me at this moment. Hope and happiness, it is all we need in life really. I am very much looking forward to returning to work but also going to make the most of my allowed time to write. Starting tomorrow I will officially put pen to paper once more.

A brief note on this. As always I am still working on my novella, but a recent set of sparks recently ignited means I have pushed passed a pretty persistent block in my plot. As such I have a much sturdier view of the world ahead for my characters and I cannot wait to return to this fictional world after being on pause for so long. A happy mental state really does improve one’s capacity to write, as I have now learned. Rest assured I will be delving into this much more in the next entry! For now, I shall have to hold you in suspense that little bit longer…

Also, I will also mention that I was unable to reach the deadline of the fiction competition on time. However, with a study and very enjoyable job which massively ignites my passion for writing, I am even more confident of finishing in time and feeling confident enough for the goal of entering next year.

On to the story in York. Recently, I was made aware of a paid app which takes you on a murder mystery tour across the city. The format is simple, downloading separate apps which relay clues to your mobile, where you then answer the clues by walking to the hinted locations and sending answers to a question. For instance, a clue may ask you to venture over a ‘dry crossing’ (meaning bridge) and count how many clocks are in this area, which would then reveal another clue once the number has been sent via a message within the app. As a lover of the city, I massively enjoyed walking around both familiar and unfamiliar areas and learning about its culture and landmarks along the way. As a writer, I felt so involved in the storyline and the physical meandering across real terrain in real time, not merely through lines of text. Although not a fan of mystery or detective books myself, I do love a sense of the mysterious or enigmas in a narrative (as all who read and write should; this is why we do what we do after all, to answer those questions of ‘why?’ and ‘what if?’) and so to find clues and be invested in the story was a real thrill. It was as though I had jumped into a story which I could live for myself. After all, is this not what we try to do, imagine ourselves or someone of our creation in a world of our choosing, deciding where they shall go or what they shall see? I would highly recommend being involved in a similar experience. Although a tiring day, it was so worthwhile and made a fantastic day out, especially as a bonding experience with my boyfriend and his family. It truly was a day to remember and it has certainly fanned the flames towards igniting my writing flame. Here are just a few snippets from the day’s exploring!

This is where I leave this short but sweet entry. I hope you have enjoyed my musings! It seems we have passed the two year anniversary of this blog now. Wow! I really do love posting updates for anyone to follow, and for myself to look back at in the future. I hope you are enjoying these snippets too and please do let me know if you are! Any feedback or uplifting comments (fitting in with the positive mood of this blog) are greatly appreciated when you are unsure who exactly is reading your words. For all I know this blog is merely just a collection of words in the aether of the internet. Even if that is the case, my blog remains a tool to keep me writing even if I cannot find the time for fiction, and so for that reason I think of it very fondly and shall continue documenting my journey.

See you next month where I will be delving more into my fun adventures, writerly and otherwise!

Until then, keep well!

Emily